Chinese Workers’ Protests Doubled in 2023, Posing a Threat to CCP’s Rule: China Observers

In a significant development, Chinese workers engaged in twice as many protests defending their rights in 2023 compared to the previous year, raising concerns among China observers about the stability of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) rule. The Hong Kong-based human rights group, China Labor Bulletin (CLB), reported a total of 1,779 protests as of December 31, 2023, amid a backdrop of widespread layoffs, reduced wages, and business closures across the country.

The emergence of large-scale workers’ protests is attributed to China’s economic crisis, according to Lai Jianping, a former Chinese lawyer and current affairs commentator based in Canada. Lai believes that these protests could potentially lead to the downfall of the CCP.

Nationwide Workers’ Protests in 2023

Despite an easing of the draconian zero-COVID measures since December 2022, China’s economy remained sluggish in 2023. The CLB’s report points to reduced orders from international buyers and poor economic conditions leading to factories laying off workers, relocating to minimize costs, or shutting down altogether. The protests were predominantly concentrated in export-oriented industries such as electronics, garments and apparel, toys, and automotive, with workers advocating for better wages, job security, and compensation.

Guangdong Province, a major manufacturing hub, witnessed the highest number of protests, recording 510 incidents. Shandong Province followed with 108 protests, while Henan and Shanxi provinces each reported 100 protests. Even the four municipalities directly administered by the CCP, including Beijing and Shanghai, were not immune, recording a significant number of protests throughout the year.

A noteworthy event occurred on January 7 when a large-scale protest erupted in Chongqing after thousands of workers were abruptly laid off by Zybio, Inc., a manufacturer of COVID-19 test kits. Local authorities responded by deploying riot police to suppress the protest.

Other Protests and Challenges

Nikkei Asia reported that between June 2022 and October 2023, 1,777 demonstrations were linked to the property sector, with homebuyers and homeowners protesting project delays, contract violations, alleged fraud, and shoddy workmanship. Additionally, construction workers demanded unpaid wages. On July 21, 2023, thousands of parents in Xi’an city, Shaanxi Province, rallied against a government policy limiting students’ access to high school and college education opportunities.

The difficulty in assessing the true scale of these protests is compounded by Chinese authorities’ track record of covering up information.

‘They Have to Fight for Their Survival’

Lai Jianping emphasized that recent rights-defending campaigns involve more participants and are more intense than ever. Many individuals in China are facing extreme poverty, lacking financial resources to support their families, cover education expenses, address medical needs, and repay mortgages. According to Lai, the widespread protests primarily stem from the workers’ will to survive.

Li Yuanhua, a former scholar of Chinese history residing in Australia, noted that the privileged class within the CCP has been exploiting social assets, pushing the poor working class to their limits. With China’s social welfare system on the verge of collapse, workers feel compelled to fight for their survival.

Mass Protests May End CCP’s Rule

Despite the CCP’s heavy-handed approach to suppress dissidents and protesters, observers like Li Yuanhua argue that when people are struggling for survival, they no longer fear the regime’s suppression. This resistance is genuine and poses a significant challenge to the CCP’s rule, according to Lai Jianping. The ongoing wave of unemployment and layoffs affecting various industries and sectors has led to continuous protests and rights-defending incidents across the country, creating a situation that the CCP may struggle to handle.

In the words of Lai Jianping, “The CCP is facing widespread challenges, with wave after wave of unemployment and layoffs affecting various industries and sectors. Protests and rights-defending incidents are cropping up continuously, with turmoil erupting everywhere in the country. I can foresee that the CCP has no way to handle them. To some extent, this situation poses a significant threat to the rule of the communist regime.” As an old Chinese saying goes, “If people are not afraid to die, it is of no avail to threaten them with death.”